I unexpectedly joined the hunt for the dark wizard with the tribal people.

However, I didn't think it was necessarily a bad thing.

In the first place, it was a fortunate coincidence because I was curious about what Lanox was aiming for and why he came to the Krates Mountains.

'If I can find any clues about the crime, it would be the best.'

The ten tribal people didn't have a well-developed sense of smell compared to the trackers, but their senses were keen enough to pursue traces.

With their help, I had come quite far when I suddenly stopped and approached the tribal people standing still.

"What's going on?"

"The trail has disappeared. It's like it vanished into thin air."

They still seemed cautious of me, but at least they weren't hostile.

For now, I decided to try using Mana Detect from here.

'Even Mana Detect won't work...'

Then, I felt something strange.

It seemed like distorted mana was emanating from a certain tree. If it weren't for my talent in sensing mana, I wouldn't have noticed the trace.

Approaching the tree and examining it closely, I found that the trace was connected to another tree behind it.

'This form...?'

Is it a barrier?

As I observed the distorted mana trace connecting from tree to tree, a rough image formed in my mind.

I drew my sword and swung it, enveloping the mana in the blade.

Clang!

With tremendous force, the sword was repelled.

And the result was quite shocking.

'I thought I had become quite strong.'

I still have a long way to go.

The tribal people who had been watching my actions gathered around with curious eyes, looking at the tree I tried to strike.

"What in the world is happening?"

"It seems like a barrier. Perhaps the one who dealt with insects was hiding here."

As I spoke, I felt a slight sense of unease.

Judging by the completeness of the barrier, it wasn't something that could be created in just a day or two.

'The tribal village, and now this barrier. Things that didn't exist in the game seem to have existed in the past.'

Even though I had cleared the game a lot, I didn't know everything that happened.

Especially when it came to the time before the game started.

"Has there been any recent disappearances?"

"Yes. It happened a few days ago."

Just then, something burst out through the barrier.

It looked like the front legs of an insect, but I managed to narrowly dodge it with reflexes.

"It's an enemy!"

The tribal people prepared for battle, looking at the seemingly ordinary forest.

Although the forest appeared normal on the surface, something emerged as if from thin air.

"That's the same creature from earlier."

But it wasn't just one.

Several insects, even up to two of them, revealed themselves.

And then, a swarm of buzzing insects started pouring out.

'Maybe I've been thinking wrong.'

I thought Lanox had a certain intention for coming to the Krates Mountains, but considering the number of troops, it occurred to me that this might have been his headquarters from the beginning.

Seeing that there was nothing else here later, it seemed likely that Lanox had destroyed the tribal village and changed his base.

"There are too many enemies! Jadbihon! Return to the village immediately and spread the news, issue an evacuation order!"

One of the tribal people shouted, prepared to sacrifice themselves.

Given the number of enemies, his words made sense.

It was simply a number that the village couldn't handle.

And his shout soon got drowned out by the noise of the bugs.

Buzz.

Whizz.

"We will sacrifice our lives to protect the village!"

One of the tribal members roared and clashed with the insects, and the others followed, throwing themselves one by one.

'They talk as if they're going to die for sure...'

Do they think they will fail?

Well, that could be possible.

I drew Galakshur and started smashing the insects.

'Since we've decided to go all out, let's show them what we're capable of.'

I immediately summoned Nickel and sent him to the tribal people who seemed vulnerable under the sudden attack of the insects.

They would probably be wearing masks anyway, so it didn't matter if they discovered that I was a necromancer, especially in a situation like this.

Swoosh! Crash!

"Oof!"

Startled by Nickel's sudden appearance, the tribal person stumbled backward, making a gasping sound.

As Nickel began to fiercely attack the insects, the tribal person, without even having time to think about the situation, moved their body in various directions, trying to avoid being swept away by the swarm of bugs.

Since things had turned out this way, I summoned Timur as well. I entrusted Timur with dealing with the annoying insects and rushed towards the remaining insect.

"Shall we test our skills?"

They say that even a low-level boss can take on a few when they gather together, so I should check my own skill level.

I immediately charged at the creature flying in the air and swung my sword.

However, the creature evaded my attack in an instant and sent four fists flying towards me.

Although it was fast in flight, its fists were relatively slow, so I blocked and dodged them before stepping back.

"The wings are the problem."

The fast flight due to the wings was faster than I expected.

But considering that it couldn't continue moving quickly, it seemed that there were limitations for the creature as well.

Swish.

Suddenly, the opponent launched a powerful body slam at an incredible speed.

Seemingly aware that a body slam would be more efficient than swinging fists, it came at me in a rather threatening manner. However, I wasn't foolish enough to be hit by a straightforward attack that came in a straight line.

'It's certainly strong, but...'

Something was missing.

Just a few of them gathering at this level to defeat a boss like me?

From what I could see, Lanox must have come here when his abilities were still weak.

And my speculation proved to be correct as the insect, which had been fighting Nickel in the distance, suddenly had its limbs disintegrated and wings severed, rolling on the ground.

"Nickel."

I called Nickel back and dealt with the creature I was facing.

Since their skill level wasn't high enough for me to feel the need to face them, I decided to assist the tribal people instead.

That's when it happened.

Boom!

With a loud noise, Timur was pushed back.

The creature Timur was struggling against was the same one I had faced before, but its color was subtly different.

'When did that one suddenly appear?'

Before my observation could even finish, the creature that Timur was facing unleashed a series of punches.

Contrary to my previous assumption that it was the same creature with just a different color, Timur showed signs of being overwhelmed in terms of strength.

Thunk!

Timur, who had taken a hit, was instantly impaled on a tree.

Was that one real?

Nickel, who had already dealt with the insect I was facing, approached the creature that had sent Timur flying, its cloak-like robe fluttering.

The creature, perhaps feeling the pressure from Nickel, made strange sounds and trembled its wings.

"Sorry to interrupt the sudden tension between you two..."

[Low-grade Command: Summon Ghoul.]

[163 corpses detected.]

[Insufficient proficiency of the caster. 82 responses.]

[Lesser Necromancer: Summon Ghoul successfully cast.]

[A total of 82 Beetle-type Ghouls have been summoned.]

"I specialize in ghouls, you know."

The insect corpses that had emerged around attacked their former companions.

And nearly half of them swarmed towards the different-colored insect.

The insect created a booming sound in the air as it fought off the beetle-type ghouls rushing at it. However, in the meantime, Nickel approached using liquefaction and sliced its throat with a single sword strike.

"Even I think it's cowardly."

But considering that the enemy had a larger number, maybe it wasn't that cowardly after all?

With pointless thoughts in my mind, I crushed the remaining insects.

Lanox seemed to have had a fondness for the insects he created, so he might be vomiting blood and lamenting by now.

"Who are you, exactly...?"

The tribal people watched in awe as I and my undead crushed the enemies with ease.

Instead of standing there in amazement, why don't you kill at least one more? There are still quite a few left.

.

.

.

.

The enhancement of Mana Recovery from the Original Sin was quite helpful.

After repetitively killing and summoning the crawling insects a few times, they finally quieted down as if the end had come.

Thanks to Nickel's initial handling of the insects, none of the tribal people were killed.

They were injured here and there, but compared to the number of insects we had killed, it was just a drop in the bucket.

"So we managed to stop such a large number."

"I'm so tired. I want to wash up quickly."

"If we knew we could handle it ourselves, we wouldn't have sent Jadbihon back to the village."

At this point, the tribal people didn't even pay attention to me summoning undead.

Well, I guess I wouldn't complain about surviving in this situation.

'By the way, I don't see a trace of Lanox.'

Is he crying inside?

Now, I had to wrap things up, so I forcefully banged on the tree where the barrier was.

Perhaps I had used too much mana because the force didn't transmit properly, and the barrier bounced back just like before. Nickel shook his head and approached me, swinging his sword.

Swish. I admired the clean and neat cut of the tree.

There didn't seem to be any noticeable difference, so what was the problem?

As the barrier broke, the hidden landscape was revealed.

There, a huge tree that hadn't been visible before stood, emitting a gloomy energy from the base, revealing a cave-like hole.

'Is that the main base?'

From here on, I wanted to separate from the tribal people.

"It could be dangerous inside, so I'll go alone."

"What are you talking about? We can't let our benefactor go alone to their death."

They suddenly became respectful.

I appreciated their reaction, but politely declined.

"Do you think I'll throw away the life I barely saved? No need. If you're too worried, you don't have to follow. Just wait here."

I pointed to Nickel and Timur by my side, indicating that there was no problem.

Finally, the tribal people reluctantly stepped back, allowing me to enter the base of the tree.

As I went inside, sticky fluid-like substances were splattered around, and baby-like bug monsters were scurrying away.

'Just as I suspected. This must be Lanox's dungeon.'

I wasn't sure when he moved here, but judging from the condition, he seemed to have stayed here for quite a while.

Why did he suddenly attack the tribal people after staying quiet for so long?

I blocked the attacks of the small insect assailants with Nickel and T'Mur and ventured deeper into the dungeon.

There, I began to see not only the corpses of monsters and beasts but also the corpses of humans and other races.

A quick glance suggested that he had been using the corpses to breed insects.

'Did he attack the tribal people because he ran out of prey?'

The reason didn't matter.

It had nothing to do with me.

My only goal was to get rid of Lanox, who would be a hindrance later.

"Hey, where are you hiding?"

The base of the tree was entangled like a maze.

I trusted Timur's sense of smell and continued forward, but I worried that he might escape.

After walking for a while, using Mana Detect intermittently, I finally sensed his presence.

Without hiding the smile that naturally formed on my face, I ran towards him.

As a summoner, Lanox's physical attack power was close to zero, so there was no danger now that most of the insects were killed.

"So you're here?"

"Who the hell are you? Why are you attacking me, another dark sorcerer?"

Lanox, with his squiggly appearance, shouted at me as if he felt unjust.

I approached him with my mask covering my face and sword in hand.

"Are you from the Assembly? Are you retaliating because I postponed joining?"

"What? You're not from the Assembly?"

I naturally assumed that Lanox was a member of the Assembly, but it seemed that he hadn't joined yet.

And he seemed surprised by my question.

"You're not from the Assembly?"

At that moment, I felt an indescribable energy within me, and a message appeared.

"'Pure Original Sin' senses the power of 'Charitable Greed'."

Greed?

Suddenly here?

Was it because I had an Original Sin?

I instinctively realized that among the possessions Lanox had, there must be something related to the page of Greed.

Before killing him, I asked one last question.

"Who has the authority to grant membership to the Assembly?"

"What are you talking about? Who are you if not from the Assembly?"

"Answer the question. Before I kill you."

"Heigel, I think his name was. Please, spare me."

So Heigel made it here.

It's fortunate that I didn't encounter him.

I would have lost to him with my current abilities.

'He was a top-level sorcerer known for his exceptional skills, although he didn't show up at the previous Assembly.'

I heard the answer I wanted and pointed my sword at him.

"Hand over the possessions you have. Give them all to me."

"Ah, okay."

He began rummaging through his robe and throwing various items onto the ground.

I searched through them, looking for something related to the page of Greed, but the aura of Greed still emanated from Lanox.

"That's all of it. There's nothing more."

"You're lying."

Whack!

"Argh!"

I struck his shoulder with my sword.

Lanox screamed and writhed in pain.

"Fine! Wait! Please spare me!"

Technically, I could have just killed him and taken the item, but I restrained myself because I wanted to find out where he acquired it from.

Finally, Lanox pulled out a crimson gem from his pocket.

"That's it."

[Fragment of Charitable Greed]